Orchard and river attract visitors to Can Tho in the summer

Summer is traditionally the peak season for the tourism industry. In Can Tho, alongside well-established attractions such as the Cai Rang Floating Market, river cruises, and orchard-based tourism, many destinations are refreshing their offerings by focusing on hands-on, immersive experiences that allow visitors to engage with the daily lives of local communities.

One destination that has attracted an increasing number of visitors in recent months is the Cuong Thinh Ecotourism Garden in Tan Hoa Commune, Can Tho City. What began as a family orchard has been transformed by owner Nguyen Ngoc Hanh into a community-based tourism destination that captures the essence of the Mekong Delta. Here, visitors can pick fresh fruit, paddle a sampan, fish, harvest organic vegetables, and enjoy meals prepared from produce they have just gathered.

The garden is home to dozens of fruit varieties, including Golden Star Apple, purple longan, Tien Cuong rambutan, Ruby guava, Thai ambarella, American lemon, sapodilla, and many seasonal vegetables cultivated year-round. Instead of charging an entrance fee, the garden allows visitors to explore freely, sample fruit on-site, and pay only for the fruit they choose to take home.

According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Hanh, what delights visitors most is not simply tasting fresh fruit but the opportunity to hand-pick it straight from the trees. She hopes every guest leaves feeling as if they have returned to a family orchard, where they can freely experience the everyday life of a farmer in Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

Visiting the site for the first time, Doan Duy Mong, from Cai Doi Vam Commune in Ca Mau Province, said he was impressed by the lush green surroundings and the range of activities on offer, including fishing, fruit picking, and exploring the orchard. In his view, the destination is ideal for families looking to give their children a chance to experience rural life away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

"This is a highly effective model that combines agricultural production with tourism. With greater investment and support, it could certainly be replicated in other areas, creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities while providing more recreational destinations for visitors," Mr. Mong said.

Beyond community-based tourism initiatives, many of Can Tho's larger tourist attractions have also introduced new products and experiences to cater to the peak summer travel season.

At Ong De Ecotourism Village, a new 2,000 m² grass field has recently been put into operation to host group games, alongside expanded activities such as canal fishing, sampan rowing, traditional floating-market-style fairs, hands-on cake-making, and enjoying signature Mekong Delta cuisine.

According to Ho Van Thong, Deputy Director of Ong De Ecotourism Village, the site is focusing on developing culturally rooted Southern Vietnamese experiences, including folk games, water-based activities, countryside cuisine, and summer programs tailored for students. At the same time, the destination places strong emphasis on environmental hygiene and food safety to serve its growing number of visitors.

In the river tourism sector, Nguyen Thanh Phong, Director of Tan Dai Phong Company, said the company has invested in additional speedboats and expanded its tour routes to include Cai Rang Floating Market, sunset cruises, Con Son Islet, Cu Lao May, and Cu Lao Dung. It has also introduced “don ca tai tu” (Southern folk music) performances on the river to diversify visitor experiences. The company expects the city to continue investing in riverside landscapes, lighting systems, and night-time tourism services to further enhance the appeal of Can Tho’s river tourism.

According to Ms. Luong Thi Quynh, Deputy Director of Vietravel Can Tho, this year's most prominent tourism trend is the shift from conventional sightseeing to immersive experiences centered on green tourism, local culture, and regional cuisine. Destinations such as the Cai Rang Floating Market, Con Son Islet, My Khanh Tourist Village, and various community-based tourism models are attracting growing numbers of visitors by offering them the opportunity to "live like a local" rather than simply sightsee.

Ms. Quynh noted that the number of visitors traveling to Can Tho through Vietravel's network increased by approximately 25-30% in the first six months of the year compared with the same period last year. During the summer season, the company continues to roll out promotional campaigns, green tourism experiences, and personalized travel products to meet the increasingly diverse preferences of travelers.

Leveraging its unique strengths in waterways, orchard landscapes, indigenous culture, and the proactive innovation of local businesses and communities, Can Tho's tourism sector is carving out a distinctive appeal this summer. Models such as Cuong Thinh Ecotourism Garden, Ong De Ecotourism Village, and the city's river-based tourism routes have not only diversified its tourism offerings but also gradually reinforced Can Tho's reputation as one of the most attractive destinations in the Mekong Delta.